Penn State star defender will not return for playoffs, says James Franklin

Penn State football has punched its ticket to the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff appearance and is set to face SMU in 13 days. However, the December 21 matchup with the Mustangs, or any subsequent postseason run the Nittany Lions make, will occur without star safety KJ Winston.

“We will not get KJ back for this year,” James Franklin said during his first playoff press conference on Sunday afternoon. “Like I mentioned before, [it’s a] long-term injury.”

After leading the team in tackles during the season opener at West Virginia, Winston exited in the first half of the Nittany Lions’ Week 2 matchup against Bowling Green.

“But, yeah, KJ, we are hoping for him to have a more significant impact in terms of leadership, in terms of all those other things,” Franklin said of the junior defensive back in October. “But right now, KJ’s focus is on getting healthy.”

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Winston was an All-Big Ten honorable mention last fall, racking up 60 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception over 13 games.

The Nittany Lions’ defense ranks No. 16 in passing yards allowed and No. 28 in team passing efficiency defense this season without Winston. The secondary surrendered 283 yards and four touchdowns through the air to Oregon in Saturday night’s Big Ten Championship.

No. 4 Penn State football will host No. 10 SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, December 21, at noon on TNT.

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